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Employees are the fundamental cornerstone of any business. However, if employee-related issues are not properly handled, they create liability for your organization. This is where a good PEO (Professional Employer's Organization) can help. When you outsource your heaviest HR burdens to a PEO, you get more than just a payroll and benefits processing company.

You will also receive:

• Trusted advisors who can guide your organization on a wide scope of employment issues, including training and employee relations support

• Access to a wide variety of employee benefits programs at a lower cost, in order to improve recruiting and retention efforts.

All of these factors have the potential to transform your HR business model and help you achieve greater HR compliance.

What Exactly is a PEO?

A PEO is an organization in which your company enters into a co-employment relationship, acquiring many of your HR responsibilities so that you can focus on your core business functions. While your employees become co-employees of the PEO and your company, you always retain control of your business and the work functions of your employees.

2. Payroll Cost Reduction With automated processes, PEOs handle the payroll processing as well as employer tax liabilities and W-2s. This creates efficiencies in your payroll processing that can lead to savings.

3. 401k and FSAs Everything from retirement savings programs that include 401(k) plans, flex-spending accounts and more can be handled through a PEO. These programs are often cost prohibitive for single employers and contain many compliance-related traps. PEOs offer employers access to these types of benefit programs and handle the administrative responsibilities, compliance testing, distribution processing, regulatory requirements and required notices.

4. Compliance - Employment Law Is Complicated If you are not up-to-date with regulations, HR laws, and rules, the consequences can be very costly. State and federal agencies do not mind imposing hefty fines for non-compliance. As your partner, your PEO will guide you in staying on top of developments in all of the markets in which you operate and help you avoid common pitfalls.

5. Workers’ Compensation Claims Administration Handling workers’ compensation is difficult. Insurance premiums and claims management, processes can be time-consuming and costly. When you engage a PEO, coverage for your employees can be provided through the PEO’s sponsored workers’ compensation policy. The PEO will then handle the paperwork, audits, compliance and follow up on your employees’ claims. Typically, your business will have access to a dedicated team of workers' compensation specialists. They can help you mitigate risk while ensuring your injured employees are cared for appropriately.

6. Recruiting and Hiring Use a professional PEO to screen applicants to ensure the right candidates get to your desk for review. PEOs can also handle the development of employee handbooks and manuals and streamline the onboarding process by assisting with post-offer testing and new hire paperwork. These professionals make the hiring process smooth and efficient outsourcing some of these recruiting processes to a PEO can save money and provide freedom for you to focus on profit-making functions.

7. Organizational Growth The argument for outsourcing portions of your human resources tasks is a compelling one. According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), businesses in a PEO arrangement:

• Have 10%-14% lower turnover

• Grow 7%-9% faster

• Are 50% less likely to go out of business

According to NAPEO, a survey conducted in 2016, PEOs provide access to more HR services at a cost that is almost $450 lower per employee, compared to companies that manage their HR services in-house.

PEOs are proving to be beneficial to small and medium businesses wishing to leverage the core functions and efficiencies these services provide. Regardless of size, a company stands to benefit from a catalog of HR technology and specialized support, allowing for business growth. Learn More